Goober says "Hey" back.

 

 

Frances

It would be nearly impossible for anyone to present a truer picture of the area scenery than 007 has done in post number 57. It is absolutely on target and his final statement is classic truth. I would think that Fraley, Euton, and/or Hall going to Ashland is less likely than Arab-Israeli peace or Jerry Falwell becoming the Pope.

 

Fine post James.

I think Ashland basketball needs a complete overhaul. Rickyp said in a post awhile back that Pendleton's Buddy Biggs seemed to be the most prevalent rumor. I'll use him for my hypothetical solution, because I think he would be an amazing hire, and he fits my model coach perfectly.

 

Ashland needs a young, personable coach who can immediately connect with the town and the kids (see: Hart, Leon). Ashland needs an energetic and motivational coach who can inspire these kids to play hard for him and win for him. As I've said before, I don't think our previous coach excelled in this department. Also, Ashland needs a face to the program. Flynn did this pretty well, but I don't think he came off as a personable guy. Our new coach should be able to go to the youth league games, middle school games, and various camps and be able to talk to the parents and kids, and vice versa. Flynn would go to youth league games and sit by himself. I'd like a coach who would go out of his way to talk to parents and players alike. I think this would go a long way in getting the numbers for basketball up. You have got to have a coach the kids want to play for, and I know way too many talented kids over the past years who did not play basketball at Ashland, or did and absolutely despised it because of our previous coach. I think a new coach who does the above would change everything, and it is in that sense that I believe Buddy Biggs, or someone like him would be the perfect fit at this time for Ashland basketball.

Another fine post by TomcatPride. I think he has stated Ashland's needs quite well. Now look at the scenerio from the other side. What factors exist, or will reasonably be expected to exist, at Ashland that would attract such a person to the job? In other words, at this time, what would make one think that the Ashland job is more desirable than (to carry through the example) the Pendleton County job (or, for that matter, many other coaching jobs)?

Sadly, if someone had to choose between Ashland and a Lexington, Louisville, NKY school, it would be hard to pick Ashland. The town isn't growing like those places, where talent seems to always be there. In Ashland, it comes in waves in the current system. But, that said, it's still Ashland. I know it's not what it once was, but the pride is still here. We're the winningest program in the state. If you're a tradition type person who loves history, how could the Ashland job not be desirable.

 

And we know the situation isn't perfect. The talent pool is down and there is an up and coming team 5 minutes down the road. But if you're a confident coach, you can look at Ashland as a high-risk high-reward situation. We're ready to hand you the keys. Come in and rejuvenate the youth leagues, build the numbers back up with a likeable personality and connection with the town, and get Ashland excited for basketball again. You've got two very good players (Thomas and McDavid), your own holiday tournament, and playing in a region that is not overly strong where you could coceiveably have a chance to win it every year. Why not look at the Ashland situation as a positive? I think the right coach could look at Ashland thinking he could be the one who changed it up, he was the one who started selling out Anderson Gym every night, he was the one who brought the focus at Ashland back on basketball and made it more than something to do while football was over, and that he was the one who restored the "Tomcat Pride" and winning ways to Ashland basketball.

 

I know it may be far fetched, but it's all very possible.

It is sad to see a fine man like Coach Flynn being portrayed the way he is being portrayed.

He was the greatest coach when he beat the great OJ and company. Oh how fickle the Tomcat Nation can be.

Bottom line is the talent at Ashland has barely been Top 5 in the region the past three years.

Do you want a coach or a politician?

Wayne Breeden, one of 16th region's best, was one-tenth of a second from being shown the door at Blazer in his FIRST year. Tough gig for whoever gets the job.

I have gained a great respect for Boyd County fans who do not bash Coach Pratt,another fine man, who has yet to reach the regional tourney in his tenure. There is more to high school school coaching than winning and losing.

BTW why should the focus be back on basketball and not football? Both sports should have the focus on them. Just look at Russell High School. It has the best overall sports program, boys and girls, in the area and quite possibly the state.

Here's an old name from the past----Roger Zornes

It will definitely have to be a NAME.

No assistant coach or head coach who has not gone to the state tourney will get it.

Roger to Blazer would be like Pitino to Louisville.

He could have a name ten stories tall, if he does not bring some horses with him it may be a very short stay where coal meets iron.

 

If Zornes had coached at Ashland first and was now going to Boyd County, that would be like Pitino going to Louisville.

It is sad to see a fine man like Coach Flynn being portrayed the way he is being portrayed.

He was the greatest coach when he beat the great OJ and company. Oh how fickle the Tomcat Nation can be.

Bottom line is the talent at Ashland has barely been Top 5 in the region the past three years.

Do you want a coach or a politician?

Wayne Breeden, one of 16th region's best, was one-tenth of a second from being shown the door at Blazer in his FIRST year. Tough gig for whoever gets the job.

I have gained a great respect for Boyd County fans who do not bash Coach Pratt,another fine man, who has yet to reach the regional tourney in his tenure. There is more to high school school coaching than winning and losing.

BTW why should the focus be back on basketball and not football? Both sports should have the focus on them. Just look at Russell High School. It has the best overall sports program, boys and girls, in the area and quite possibly the state.

 

Is he being misportrayed? He was a great coach, and a good guy once you got to know him. But I'm not making up the things I've stated and reinterated numerous times on here. I felt it was time for a change, and obviously he did too. As for the coach/politican question, I just want a coach who is personable and who the kids want to play and win for. I don't think that makes him a politician, but if it does, I guess that is my answer.

 

And I never said I wanted to take focus away from football. I want some focus on basketball too, since I feel it's become second class behind football. The sole reason for that, I believe, is Leon Hart. A great example of how a new coach can rejuvenate a whole program. But I want focus on all programs, I never said I wanted to take away from football.

 

And I disagree with you 007. It's not like the 16th is a powerhouse. A new coach doesn't need to bring horses, which I'm sure would go over great with our regional friends anyway. Ashland may not have talent head and shoulders above everyone else, but I don't think they are too far behind anyone else. I feel the 16th is very balanced, and all a new coach needs to win, in my opinion, is some motivation, energy, and luck.

A new coach doesn't need to bring horses, which I'm sure would go over great with our regional friends anyway. Ashland may not have talent head and shoulders above everyone else, but I don't think they are too far behind anyone else. I feel the 16th is very balanced, and all a new coach needs to win, in my opinion, is some motivation, energy, and luck.

It's going to take more than a lucky coach with a magnetic personality to get that done.

Welcome aboard 007 and CAMALOT... :thumb:

The tradition that TomcatPride mentions is an important factor. However, as the years pass it becomes less and less significant to outsiders. I think that a wise coach would need to weigh the tradition against the negatives that exist at the present time. I would think that a person who knows all the facts would find it hard to leave a Pendleton County, Clark County, Russell, or some similar program for the Ashland job.

 

I do agree with 007 and Fastbreak that, if a new coach is to be successful in the near future, he will need to bring some athletes with him. From what I hear, Ashland's existing talent level is not very impressive for the next five or six years. I don't think that Ashland fans (particularly those who hold on to that tradition so tightly) will give a new coach six years to develop a program. An influx of talent will be required and, of course, Ashland's neighbors will be closely "policing" the transfer situation.

 

Coach Flynn did a good job. However, as he leaves, I believe that he leaves an overall program that has diminished under his watch. In other words, he leaves less than he received.

...I would think that a person who knows all the facts would find it hard to leave a Pendleton County, Clark County, Russell, or some similar program for the Ashland job....

 

Somebody needs to get on the phone to these coaches and let them know just how ugly and desperate the situation is at Ashland, because I know that they are receiving feelers from a ton of coaches - some that have been named on BGP, and some that haven't.

 

These poor fools must be terribly uninformed to be pursuing such a horrific situation.

 

 

Frances

No one is saying that Ashland is a "horrific situation" or that the situation is "ugly and desperate". On the other hand, I would doubt that a "ton" of coaches, particularly well established coaches, are "sending out feelers" about the job. I would think the "feelers" are being sent out in the other direction. I imagine a tentative list of candidates was prepared by the boosters some time ago.

 

Several posters, me included, have tried to set forth what many see as the present status of the program at Ashland. No one is taking any undue shots. I am unaware of any law that prohibits opinions from those not wearing the traditional maroon and white. It is a slow time in area athletics and such a development brings interest from Ashland dissenters as well as from proAshlanders. Really, no harm was meant. However, I stick by my analysis. I still think Ashlanders need to be realistic and realistically this job is not heaven on earth and we all know of the many reasons why that is the case.

 

Flynn knew it was time for him to leave.